Duane Lee Fortin

Duane Lee Fortin, 88, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away Friday, December 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospice House after a short illness. Visitation will be Friday, December 27th from 6-9pm at McGilley and George Funeral Home, 12913 Grandview Rd, Grandview MO. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, December 28th at 10:30 AM at Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church, 13000 Bennington Ave, Grandview MO. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in North Kansas City. Donations may be made in his name to Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church.

Duane was born November 27th, 1936 to Gene and Mabel Fortin in Oberlin, KS. He has been a member of Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church in Grandview since 1966. Duane met his beloved wife Pat, who preceded him in death in 2013, at St. Agnes High School in Fairway, Kansas. They were married in 1957, and had 5 children. He attended St. Benedict’s college on a basketball scholarship, and played in the NAIA tournament.

Duane started out teaching and coaching in Leoville KS from 1958-1960, then was at Bishop Hogan High School in Kansas City, MO from 1960 to 1978. In addition to being a math teacher, he was a very successful basketball coach, earning the West Central Coaches Assoc. Coach of the Year Award in 1969, winning the Catholic-Prep League seven consecutive years, and coaching two All-Americans. He was inducted into the Inaugural Hogan Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022. In addition to teaching and coaching at Bishop Hogan, he also served as the Athletic Director and Assistant Principal. In 1978, he left Bishop Hogan to become a very successful insurance agent for Union Central Life. He just retired from his “second career” in December 2023.

Duane is survived by his children, sons Michael Lee Fortin, Lee’s Summit, MO, and Thomas Edward Fortin (Laura), Foristell, MO; daughters Barbara Ann Argotsinger (Jamie), Rogers AR, Sandra Lynn Fortin, Redondo Beach, CA, and Diane Kay Dollar, Overland Park, KS; brother Don Fortin, Topeka, KS; sisters Carol Bollig (Duane) Aliso Viejo, CA, Joyce Fortin, Quartz Hill, CA, and Pamela Johnson (Craig), Brighton, CO; and 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brother Darrell Fortin, sister Therese (Gene) Foland, and great-grandson Talon Fortin.

Condolences may be left at mcgilleygeorgegrandview.com